BEST FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022 ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
BRIEF PROFILES ON SOME OF THE BEST YOUNG ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS IN FM22
We cover youth football and we love Football Manager. We’ve combined both to compile a list of the young attacking midfielders that you should start scouting on your FM22 saves. These aren’t necessarrily “best”, but they’re interesting prospects for clubs across the spectrum of football. They’re players that we like in real-life that look good in FM22.
WHAT ROLES CAN ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS PLAY IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 22?
Outside of Goalkeeper, Attacking Midfielders have the most limited number of roles in FM22 with only five options; Advanced Playmaker, Trequartista, Enganche, Shadow Striker and Attacking Midfielder. The two most popular of these roles are Advanced Playmaker and Attacking Midfielder.
The Advanced Playmaker will act as your team’s primary creative fulcrum in the final third. Normally, they will be the only midfielder in your team with a designated ‘playmaker’ role. They look to receive in pockets of space between the lines, using technical and passing quality to break down the defence. On attack duty, they will dribble at defenders more often to mess with their shape.
By contrast, the Attacking Midfielder role will see your player occupy the hole behind the striker in a more advanced area than an Advanced Playmaker, and look to quickly facilitate play, either by creating shots for himself or others. With the attack duty, your player will properly attack the box as well to support your striker with numbers.
THE BEST YOUNG TALENTS IN FOOTBALL
The Trequartista role is fairly similar to the Advanced Playmaker, although they commit themselves very heavily to the offensive side of the game, and will leave a lot of the defensive duty to others out of possession. So while he doesn’t get much defensive work done, they are player that your attacking unit revolves around.
The Enganche is a creative role that will see your player stay quite stationary in the hole behind the striker for the attack to build around. They won’t attack the channels or the box, they are almost like a rebound wall that is excellent for building with one-two passes, for example.
The Shadow Striker role is a more aggressive attacking role that will see your player attack the penalty area with regularity, looking to work with another striker in their vicinity. Shadow Strikers are aggressive off the ball too, looking to create high turnovers to regain possession in dangerous parts of the pitch.
WHAT ATTRIBUTES ARE IMPORTANT FOR ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS IN FM22?
The Enganche and Advanced Playmaker will require the same essential attributes: vision, dribbling, passing, technique, teamwork, off the ball movement, flair, decision-making, composure, anticipation, and agility. Another creative role, the Trequartista, will require the same attributes, but also some acceleration and finishing for those late runs into the penalty area.
The Attacking Midfielder skillset isn’t too different either. That will require finishing and long shots for creating from themselves from outside the box and also for looking to attacking the penalty area and find chances there.
A Shadow Striker relies on pace, acceleration, stamina and work rate to fuel their off the ball work, as well as finishing and composure to aid them in the penalty area.
WATCH: 5 YOUNG PLAYERS YOU SHOULD BUY IN FM22
LAST UPDATED: APRIL 7, 2022
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HOUSSEM AOUAR
DATE OF BIRTH
30/06/1998 (23)
POSITIONS
AM, CM, LW
CLUB
Olympique Lyonnais
NATIONALITY
France
VALUE
€18M – €53M
It’s hardly believable that Houssem Aouar is still at Lyon after years of transfer speculation regarding his future. However, with a contract expiring in 2023, he presents as a great target to follow at the start of your save, either to immediately extract him from Lyon for just under €40 million, or as an option to pounce on as he approaches the end of his contract.
Aouar is a proper playmaker, with excellent dribbling, first touch, passing, vision, and technique with the added versatility to play just about any midfield or attacking position – bearing in mind that he is fairly right foot dominant.
His most suited role seems to be as an advanced playmaker though, so keep that in mind before taking the plunge on a major transfer fee (and wage) commitment.
PEDRO GONÇALVES
DATE OF BIRTH
26/06/1998 (23)
POSITIONS
AM, LW
CLUB
Sporting CP
NATIONALITY
Portugal
VALUE
€17M – €52M
After a weird development path that has seen Pedro Gonçalves traverse Braga, Valencia, Wolves and Famalicão, he has spent the last two seasons at Sporting CP moulding himself as the second coming of Bruno Fernandes.
For around €35 million at the start of your save, Pedro is an excellent goal-scoring attacking midfielder, blessed with superb finishing and long shot stats. His ability to play as an inside forward coming in from the right- or left-hand side given his quality on both sides of his body is also a bonus, while he can also play as a striker, and to lesser effect in midfield.
Pedro is a risk taker, with ‘tries killer balls often’, ‘gets forward whenever possible’ and ‘shoots from distance’ as player traits, so consider this when deciding whether you need a goal-scoring or more creative attacking midfield player.
HAMED JUNIOR TRAORÈ
DATE OF BIRTH
26/02/2000 (21)
POSITIONS
AM, CM
CLUB
US Sassuolo
NATIONALITY
Côte d’Ivoire
VALUE
€12M – €36M
Having only ‘officially’ joined Sassuolo in the summer, despite two previous seasons on loan at the club, Hamed Junior Traorè is not available to sign as you start your save. But keep an eye on him.
As he approaches the end of his contract in 2024, there is a potential bargain to be had on a European level player at a low price. Hamed is a strong all-round midfield option that is strong on both sides of his body and can play in a variety of midfield and attacking positions.
He is fundamentally a creative player with good passing, first touch, technique and dribbling stats. But good finishing and off the ball stats could make him an interesting player to try up front as well.
NICOLÒ ZANIOLO
DATE OF BIRTH
02/07/1999 (22)
POSITIONS
AM, RW
CLUB
AS Roma
NATIONALITY
Italy
VALUE
€37M – €110M
As he starts to return to his previous levels after recurring serious knee problems, Nicolò Zaniolo returns as one of the premiere young attacking midfielders to sign in Football Manager 22.
More of an attacking goal-scorer (or inside forward or inverted winger off the right) than a creator, Zaniolo’s high level physical attributes make him a good fit for the shadow striker role. Here, his work rate, aggression and determination, coupled with his dribbling and finishing, will mean he is equally effective both on and off the ball.
He is likely to set you back somewhere in the vicinity of €70 million. But, if you are a cashed up Champions League contending team looking for an attacking midfielder, there are not many better options available.
WHAT ARE FOOTBALL MANAGER WONDERKIDS?
Wonderkid is a cliché term that’s synonymous with Football Manager. They’re young prospects – usually aged 16 to 18 – that have elite-level potential in the game. Freddy Adu is a prominent example for older managers, while Youssoufa Moukoko is a current case. They’re the superstar youngsters that are must-buys on every save.
But it’s also subjective. A wonderkid at Accrington Stanley is completely different to a wonderkid at Manchester City. Essentially, the surroundings dictate the status.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD ATTACKING MIDFIELDER IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
A good attacking midfielder will, more than likely, be a player that can impact games from spaces between the lines and in support of your striker.
You will need a player that certainly technically gifted, but also intelligent and athletic. Again, team style is important, but an attacking midfielder that can directly contribute with shot creation and goal scoring will be worth his weight in gold.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
You can do so by utilising the player search tool, which enables you to specify the certain variables you’re looking for in your player – from age to specific attributes.
Make the most of your scouts, too. Send them to scout nations (rather than regions/contintents) for the best young centre-backs by defining their criteria – specifying under-23, four-start potential, etc. Alternatively, just scour the Scouted Football website!
HOW TO DEVELOP YOUNG ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
As always, pathways are paramount. You have to make sure that your youngsters have access to meaningful minutes at the appropriate levels. If you have a first-team ready talent, phase him into the team gradually, during pre-season ideally.
If your prospect needs a bit more polishing, the loan system is a valuable tool. But pathways to senior level minutes are key. Assess your youngsters on a case-by-case basis, decide what they need, and enact your decision.
WHERE CAN I BUY FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
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Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Burno Fernandes and Jack Grealish are ranked as the best attacking midfielders in Football Manager 2022. Thomas Müller is also an elite-level AM.
Phil Foden and Pedri are two of the premiere young attacking midfielders in FM22. Then there’s Mason Mount, Martin Ødegaard, Dani Olmo, Nicolò Zaniolo and Pedro Gonçalves as well.
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